When researching the best biotech stocks to buy, investors often look for companies that will cure terrible, chronic diseases.
Until recently, these biotech stocks have been elusive.
"Modern medicine, for all of its sophisticated drugs, complex gadgets, and amazing surgical procedures, rarely cures anything," Money Morning's Biotech Investing Specialist Ernie Tremblay said. "It treats. It manages. It postpones the inevitable. But return a patient to normal, optimal health? Seldom."
But now that's changing - thanks to an industry known as personalized medicine.
In his 20 years' experience, Tremblay has covered every type of biotech stock and company on the market. And when he talks about the personalized medicine field, he describes the treatments as "miraculous."
"The idea is simply this: with current technologies, it's possible to design drugs, such as cell therapy products, that can be altered or optimally combined to fit the genetic and morphological profile of each individual patient, often recruiting his or her own immune system into the fight," Tremblay said.
Instead of companies developing a "one-size-fits-all" drug for thousands of patients, these medicines work differently for every patient based on his or her needs.
"Personalized medicine could provide real-life 'magic bullets' for diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's and ulcerative colitis)," Tremblay said.
When it comes to complex diseases like Crohn's, the pathology of the illness differs from person to person. Therefore, a catch-all drug isn't effective for everyone. And that's part of the reason a cure hasn't been found.
And the applications for personalized medicines don't just apply to diseases...
"This field also holds the promise of miraculous treatments for severe spinal injuries, joint and bone repair, and organ replacement," Tremblay said.
Right now, personalized medicine has all types of rejuvenation, replacement, and regeneration applications. Broken bones and cuts can heal quicker. Organ transplant patients will face a smaller risk of organ rejection. Stem cells can replace or rebuild failing organs or damaged nerves.
If that wasn't enough, the field is also creating huge wealth for investors.
The Alliance of Regenerative and Personalized Medicine says current cell therapies have already generated $900 million in revenue. Right now, more than 160,000 patients receive treatment.
"If you add in other types of regenerative medicine products, that $900 million figure doubles," Tremblay said.
With that $1.8 billion figure in mind, here's how to invest in this piece of biotech today...
Biotech Stocks to Buy: Tapping This $1.8 Billion Field
Right now, the best stocks to buy in this field are growth companies that still have major upside.
Some of the most popular stocks have been Biogen Idec Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) and Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq: AMGN). But for investors looking for a more aggressive growth opportunity, these stocks aren't it. Over the last five years, BIIB stock has gained 621%. It now trades at $347 per share. AMGN is up 198% in the same time, and each share is worth $168. They are more established now, with market caps of $78 billion and $129 billion respectively.
That's why Tremblay recommends Organovo Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ONVO). It develops human tissue used for drug development and biological research. It also makes therapeutic implants that treat damaged organs and tissue.
"It makes the tissue with an exciting new technology called 3D Bioprinting, which identifies key architectural and compositional elements of a target tissue," Tremblay said. "It then creates a design that can be utilized by a 'bioprinter' to generate that tissue in the laboratory."
ONVO has collaboration agreements with numerous institutes and private companies like the United Therapeutics Corporation, the Knight Cancer Institute, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation, among others.
It's still small, with a market cap just over $500 million. Organovo is a development stage company so it does come with a little bit more risk. Right now, ONVO stock trades at $6.32, even after climbing 307% in the last five years.
At that low price, the long-term potential of the stock is even more enticing.
"The possibilities for using this company's products in both medical research and in clinical applications represent limitless income potential - and, I believe, an extraordinary opportunity for the long-term investor," Tremblay said.
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